John Nicholas Meyer of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate was assigned as the first parish priest in Kokstad in 1884.

In September of that year, soldiers of the Cape Mounted Riflemen built a small chapel, which served as the first church.

The Holy Cross sisters led the fundraising effort, with gifts coming from the local community as well as from Europe.

[3] The cornerstone was laid on 27 February 1924 by Adalbero Fleischer, then Apostolic Vicar of Mariannhill, and construction completed later that year.

In 1951, Pope Pius XII issued the bull Suprema Nobis erecting the Diocese of Kokstad (Dioecesis Kokstadensis), and St. Patrick's was named the seat of the bishop.